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Halle Berry Forced to Change at Cannes Film Festival Due to New Rule
Halle Berry had to say au revoir to the dress she originally planned to wear to the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Why? Because her gown was in violation of the event’s dress code.
"I had an amazing dress by Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train is too big," Berry explained to reporters during a May 13 press conference. "Of course, I’m going to follow the rules. So, I had to make a pivot."
What's wrong with the train? Well, according to a new rule in the festival's charter, "voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating" in the Grand Théâtre Lumière are not allowed.
As a result, Berry walked the red carpet for the festival's opening ceremony in a black and white striped silk organza dress by Jacquemus. However, the Monster’s Ball star did get a chance to wear her Gupta gown to a festival dinner held at another venue.
Still, this isn’t the only new regulation festivalgoers had to follow. Nudity is also prohibited, which, Berry noted, was "probably also a good rule."
Meanwhile, the festival stands by its fashion stance. As a rep for the organization told The Hollywood Reporter May 12, "certain rules that have long been in effect" and the objective is "not to regulate attire per se but to prohibit full nudity on the carpet" in accordance with the festival’s framework and French law.
Daniele Venturelli/WireImage; Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
And while you may get banned for disrespecting the rules, some haven't been afraid to test them.
Take Heidi Klum and Wan QianHui, for instance, who both strolled down the carpet in gowns with eye-catching trains.
As stars continue to turn the festival red carpet into a runway, here’s a rundown of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival rules.
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Evening Wear Required for Gala Screenings
If stars are attending one of the two nightly gala screenings at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, then they’ll need to don evening wear (such as a long dress or tuxedo). For those looking for a little fashion inspo, they can check out the Giorgio Armani tux Michael B. Jordan wore to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival screening of his movie Fahrenheit 451.
Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/FilmMagic
But Alternative Options Are Allowed
However, the festival's charter notes attendees "may also wear 'a little black dress,' a cocktail dress, a dark-colored pantsuit, a dressy top with black pants; elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel; [or] a black or navy-blue suit with bow-tie or dark-colored tie" as an alternative.
Though it wasn’t for a gala screening, Emma Stone rocked an LBD with lace sleeves by Oscar de la Renta for an Irrational Man press event at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
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No Sneakers at the Gala Screenings
Take note of the aforementioned “elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel” part in the charter.
While Vogue notes it’s never been a formally written rule that women have to wear heels on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet, it appears to have been the expectation.
"Last night I was stopped on the Cannes red carpet and told by this idiotic security guard that I couldn’t get into this premiere because I was wearing flats,” Variety’s former Editor in Chief Claudia Eller tweeted in 2019. "I threatened to post this video on our Variety website. I got in.”
Some actress—including Julia Roberts, Pamela Anderson and Kristen Stewart—have taken off their shoes on the red carpet and walked barefoot.
"There’s definitely a distinct code, right?” The Twilight alum told The Hollywood Reporter in 2017. "People get very upset at you if you don’t wear heels or something, whatever. But I feel like you can’t ask people that anymore. It’s just kind of a given. Like if you’re not asking guys to wear heels and a dress, you cannot ask me either. Which is nice ‘cause that’s different. Even four years ago, it was not even a question—you have to wear a dress. But now, it’s awesome, you can’t do that anymore."
While "elegant shoes and sandals with or without a heel" are now allowed at the gala screening, Cannes website points out sneakers are not.
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No Big Bags
While a small clutch like the one Salma Hayek brought to the 2024 Cannes Film Festival is totally allowed, the charter makes it clear that "tote-bags, backpacks or large bags are prohibited during gala screenings."
Daniele Venturelli/WireImage
No "Voluminous Outfits" or Large Trains
Heidi Klum wasn’t afraid to say auf wiedersehen to this new rule in the 2025 Cannes Film Festival charter: “Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theater are not permitted.”
The supermodel strutted down the red carpet in a pink Elie Saab gown with a notable train.
Mike Marsland/WireImage
No Nudity
Think nude dresses like the one Bella Hadid wore to the 2024 Cannes Film Festival are trés chic? Well, you might be seeing fewer of them on the event's red carpet.
"For decency reasons," the charter reads, "nudity is prohibited on the Red Carpet, as well as in any other area of the Festival."
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